Beiyang reactionaries

172 United Kingdom

"General Duan."

On May 1918, 5, Li Bingzhi's No.18 Mixed Brigade took an oath in Ya'an, saying that it would definitely defend national sovereignty and ensure homeland security.Duan Xun formally appointed Shang Zhen as the Superintendent of the Sichuan-Tibet Frontier Defense, under the jurisdiction of the Second Division of the Southwest Frontier Defense Army, Li Bingzhi's No.13 Mixed Brigade, Lu Chao's Independent Southwest Frontier Defense Brigade, and the Lu Tao Model Brigade that should have belonged to the Armed Police Force. Under the command of Shang Zhen, he was fully responsible for the Tibetan rebellion.

Immediately afterwards, Shang Zhen appointed Li Bingzhi as the commander-in-chief of the advance force of the troops entering Tibet, and set off from Ya'an with his No.13 mixed brigade, aiming directly at Batang.At the same time, Lu Chao, who was stationed in Dali, was appointed as the deputy commander of the advance force. He led his independent brigade to attack Yanjing. From Yanjing to the north, he could attack Batang, and to the west, he could attack Jiangka and Zuogong.

With the official dispatch of Duan Xun's troops, the whole country is full of public opinion.

The situation in Sichuan and Tibet became extremely tense in an instant.And at the same time, all public opinion began to blame the Tibetan rebels, and some newspapers even directly criticized Britain.It is believed that the United Kingdom is behind the instigation, so that what is happening now.

At this time, everyone has forgotten the reality that the Beiyang Army and the French Guardian Army are still fighting.

Although the Hunan side has stabilized, in Fujian and Jiangxi, the battle between the Cantonese army and the Beiyang army is still very lively. The two sides are fighting a tug of war in Jiangxi and Fujian.The main forces on the battlefield here are the Guangdong Army and the Yunnan Army troops stationed in Guangdong supporting Sun Yat-sen.

In addition to this, there is a complete split within the Guardian Army.The conflict between Tang Jiyao and Sun Yat-sen was made public, and Sun Yat-sen had already left Guangdong.But none of these important things can compare to the dispatch of troops by Duan Xun's troops.

Following Duan Xun's dispatch of troops, the relationship between Duan Xun and the United Kingdom also quickly dropped to a freezing point.

Originally, there was a rumor from the British side, hoping that Duan Xun and the Tibetan army could negotiate, and that Duan Xun did not want to send troops.But that was just a tactic to delay the attack. The British hoped that the Tibetan army would completely control Batang and Litang, and then negotiate with Duan Xun.

So there are enough chips.

But Duan Xun simply ignored the opinions of the British.So the relationship between Duan Xun and Britain is getting worse and worse.In particular, Duan Xun quickly began to contact Japan, which made Britain even more dissatisfied.

Such a situation made a person very anxious, and came to find Duan Xun in a hurry.

That's Edward Dowood.

"Mr. Wood."

"General Duan, I feel very sorry for some recent events. But I don't want the recent events to affect our friendship."

This is why Edward Dowood sought Duan Xun.

Two and a half months ago, Duan Xun and Edward Dowood signed a series of cooperation agreements. The amount involved is currently only a few million, but the subsequent cooperation involves more than tens of millions.Edward Dowood helped Duan Xun purchase the machinery and equipment Duan Xun needed abroad, as well as obtain some technologies and drawings.In return, Duan Xun either used cash, or used tung oil, pig bristles and other in-demand goods in exchange.Among the machinery and equipment Duan Xun needs, there are military factories, some mines, power plants, and some private capital factories.Anyway, the amount involved is very large.

Edward Dowood regards Duan Xun as a cash cow, but he hopes to cooperate with Duan Xun to become a rich man.But now the relationship between Duan Xun and the United Kingdom has become bad, and Edward Dowood is very worried about his business.

What if Duan Xun repented?

During this period of time, he has mobilized a lot of contacts and has opened up a lot of relationships.Anyway, in this day and age, as long as you have money, you can do anything.Moreover, Duan Xun did not want the most advanced machines and technologies.Those technologies are kept secret to the Chinese, but not to the natives, as long as they give money, they can get them in their hands.Therefore, there is basically no problem with what Duan Xun needs.

Therefore, many of the machines Duan Xun needs, Edward Dowood, have already been loaded on board.Some of them have been floating at sea for nearly two months.In two or three months, I will be able to come to Sichuan.

At this time, the relationship between Duan Xun and the United Kingdom suddenly deteriorated, which made Edward Dowood anxious.

"Mr. Wood, I am a person who can tell who is good to me and who is not good to me. As long as someone is kind to me, I will treat him as a friend."

Duan Xun had an awkward relationship with Britain, but he never thought of falling out completely with Britain.

Especially these British merchants who do trade.These people have been doing business for many years, what they do to make money, and they are all people with good hands and eyes.At the beginning, they all made their fortunes in the opium and arms business, but now they have all been restrained a lot.But when there is a real profit, they still dare to do anything.

Duan Xun also needs them.

In this era, China cannot develop without relying on some big powers.In other words, the fastest way is to quickly obtain some technology and machines from these great powers.Therefore, Duan Xun is very willing to maintain friendly relations with these British businessmen who do trade.

"General Duan, I hope we will always be friends."

"I think so too."

"General Duan, you want a batch of machines needed by the soda factory, as well as some blueprints and technologies. To be honest, this is very difficult. Because this technology is their treasure. But after my efforts, I have obtained a lot from the British soda company. I still bought the drawings and technology. And the problem with the machine has been solved. I have already got these things on board, and I guarantee that I will be able to enter Chongqing within four months."

"Mr. Wood, it's a pleasure doing business with you. Since Mr. Wood is so sincere, I can't be stingy. Now is the time when goods such as wool, sheepskin, and cowhide are selling well. I decide to give Mr. Wood two shipments of wool, sheepskin, and cowhide. , Mr. Wood first earn some pocket money to use."

"Thank you, General Duan."

Edward Dowood was very excited and thanked Duan Xun again and again.

Since Duan Xun began to control the current Sichuan native product market, merchants who want to come to Sichuan to buy these materials must obtain a receipt issued by the chamber of commerce before they can purchase the goods they need.

Just like the current wool, sheepskin, and cowhide markets in Sichuan, the chamber of commerce established in cooperation with the people sent by Duan Xun and the original mountain goods stores is solely responsible for the external sales.After Duan Xun took control in this way, the prices of these Sichuan native products have risen a lot, about 30.00% of the original price.And the price is still going up.

But still can't stop those businessmen.

Because the price increase in Sichuan also drives up the market price.Anyway, those who do foreign trade will not suffer losses, but the profits are still very considerable.Therefore, these foreign firms are still robbing each other for these things.

Now that Duan Xun said a word, he gave priority to Edward Dowood with two shipments.Even if it is an ordinary boat, Edward Dowood can earn at least 10,000 to [-] on this trip.If it is a big ship, a trip can have a profit of [-]+.And it's easy.How could Edward Dowood not thank Duan Xun.

"Mr. Wood, that's what I am. I will remember whoever treats me well, and I will definitely repay him."

"General Duan, don't worry. I promise to ship all the items you listed to Chongqing within this year. And I only need the general to pay me a [-]% deposit."

"it is good."

Duan Xun was also happy.

Edward Dowood really has a way.Fan Xudong sent people to European and American countries several times, hoping to buy their soda-making technology.Even willing to pay a high price, but still failed.They don't want China to have technology and factories in this area.So at present, Fan Xudong can only explore this technology by himself, but it is not so easy.

But now with the help of Edward Dowood, Fan Xudong's soda company can be started smoothly.If Fan Xudong's soda factory can succeed, it will definitely be a huge promotion and development for China's chemical industry.

It also made Duan Xun more aware of Edward Dowood's energy.

Duan Xun thought for a while and said, "Mr. Wood, I have a big business. I don't know if Mr. Wood is interested."

"General Duan, please speak."

"I'm going to build a large-scale local product processing factory in Chongqing, and directly process Sichuan local products such as wool, sheepskin, and cowhide in Chongqing. But Mr. Wood may have heard of it, and I don't have enough funds. I know that Mr. Wood is in The banking industry has a lot of contacts, if Mr. Wood can get a sum of money, we can cooperate to set up a local specialty processing factory. If all the local specialty products of Sichuan are processed in this factory and then sold, the profit will increase several times.”

"That's a good thing."

Edward Dowood immediately patted his thigh.

Many things in Sichuan are unprocessed primary products, which are basically sent to Shanghai or Hankou for processing.But some things have a shelf life.Just like wool and sheepskin, if it is not processed within a month, or if there are no special protective measures, things will easily break down.

Although there are some processing factories here in Sichuan, they are all small in scale and cannot meet the needs of processing Sichuan native products at all.So under normal circumstances, everyone pays attention to speed when purchasing these goods.Quick transactions, and then quickly loaded on the ship, transported to Hankou or Shanghai for further processing, so that there will be no problems.

But if Sichuan has its own large-scale processing factory that can process them all, then it won't be so troublesome.Not only does the buyer have no trouble, but the seller also has no trouble.Now sellers are also having a headache. Once these goods are squeezed out, the goods will be useless.

But with processing procedures, even if these goods are squeezed, they will not be afraid of being broken.The profits inside are indeed astonishing.Especially since this is a government business, the processing of things from Sichuan will definitely come to this company, and the profits inside must be amazing.

"Well, Mr. Wood, you are interested."

"Of course. General Duan, not only I am interested, I believe that many foreign firms are interested. Funding is not a problem at all. As long as the General can approve it, then everyone is definitely very willing. But General, who will run such a processing plant? Everyone is very apprehensive about government departments running factories, and they are also very worried.”

"You can rest assured. I just want to make money, and I don't want to interfere with the operation of the factory. At that time, we will set up a board of directors and choose a management team."

"That's no problem. General, you don't have to worry about money. Everyone is interested in this kind of money-making business."